A/N: Welcome to Life with Lyel- the spin off story from Possibilities and Certainties. The chapters in this story will be mostly one shots that focus on Lyel's interactions with her family and friends, school life and activities, career, etc. Glinda, Elphie, Samion, Gwenot and the rest of the Arduennas, Uplands and Thropps will be a big part of the stories, as will Manif, Dani and the rest of the characters that were created for Easier Said than Done, Inevitabilities and Eventualities and Possibilities and Certainties. This inaugural chapter takes place during Chap 430 of P and C- the Arduenna Family Reunion at the Lodge. When possible a timeframe such as this will be provided as a reference point.

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Chapter 1- Did She Just Swear?

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"Gobadamoda pffffft." Lyel babbled happily as she toddled into the Lodge's nursery holding on to Gwenot's hand. Nusee scampered past her and over to Namom who was sitting with Jilla and the twins as well as Voril and some of the younger children, who had arrived while Lyel was napping. She let go and followed the cat as fast as her little legs would take her.

"Well look who's up." Jilla smiled.

"And walking." Voril laughed as Lyel plopped down on her bottom, laughing and babbling.

"She's gotten so big."

"Dam." Lyel said loud and clear.

"Did she just swear?" Voril said in surprise, as Jilla went to pick up the baby and gave her a hug.

"It was her first word." Namom smiled.

"Courtesy of Elphaba." Jilla laughed.

"I'm sure Glinda was thrilled with that." Voril chuckled.

"Why is she still here?" Nini said a bit petulantly as she crossed her arms and glared at her mother holding Lyel.

"Because she is an Arduenna, just like you, Ashy and the other kids. And this is an Arduenna family reunion." Jilla said as she put the squirming baby down on her feet and steadied her. Laughing, the baby headed over to Ash, who was sitting in a chair reading a book.

"All of the children will be here. I told you that." She smiled and picked up her daughter.

"I didn't think you meant her too." Nini pouted and Jilla gave her a kiss.

"You're too little to climb up here Bug." Ashy said and the adults looked and saw Lyel grabbing for Ashler's foot, trying to get onto the chair. She had been trying to climb lately, with little success.

"I'll come down there." He said as he slid off of the chair. Lyel babbled and sat down too.

"Well, I'm not messing with her. She talks silly and is smelly." Nini said with a huff.

"She's too little to talk good yet." Ashy said reasonably.

"And not smelly right now." He added and Lyel babbled happily as she tried to take Ashy's book.

"Don't care." Nini said as she whirled around and stomped over to the play area part of the nursery. Two of the other children went with her. Lyel was intrigued and started crawling after her. Ashy looked at her, shrugged and went back to his book.

"I see Asnina is still not a fan of our little Bug." Namom laughed lightly as they watched Lyel stand up and continue her exploration on her feet.

"Apparently not." Jilla sighed but chuckled as she saw Nini move farther away as Lyel got closer.

"And it seems worse now that Bug is walking."

"A little jealousy is not unusual. Things might be better when all of the children are playing together and she sees there is a place for everyone here." Namom said.

"Maybe. But Nini does love being the center of attention. Ceding that to Bug might not go over so well." Jilla chuckled.

"I guess time will tell. But we Arduenna girls are not generally known for relinquishing our spotlight easily."

Voril and Jilla left the nursery with Gwenot to get dinner together. Namom was content to stay behind and watch the youngest of her great grandchildren play. Nini and Ash were the oldest ones in the nursery. Most of the older ones were playing outside and she assumed one or two were helping in the kitchen. She was watching Ash reading to one of the little ones who had tired of playing with the others when the sound of Lyel crying refocused her attention.

"You shouldn't do dat Nini. Mama said it not nice to frow things." Three-year-old Kolif said.

"Teacher too." Another said.

"She started it." Nini said defiantly.

"And we don't wanna play with her anyway, member?" She said with authority and all the children started talking at once, which just upset Lyel more.

"Children. Enough now." Namom said firmly as she walked over to the commotion. All of the children immediately stopped talking and looked at Namom. Lyel's crying subsided a bit as she crawled over to her.

"I think it is time to start tidying up the nursery and then get washed up for dinner."

"Kay Namom." Said a chorus of little voices that Namom noticed, did not include Nini's.

"Nini please go and get her stuffed horse and give it back to her." Namom said more than certain that was the item that was thrown.

"She should have to tidy up too. She made most of this mess." Nini said.

"She will be expected to help tidy up at another time. Now please go get her toy and then help your cousins put away the playthings." Namom said to Nini and the little girl whirled around and marched over to the corner where Lyel's little stuffed horse was.

"And Ashler, will you please walk with Lyel to find your Aunt Gwen." She said with a smile as she watched the little boy sitting beside his little cousin, who was now just sniffling and hiccupping while sucking her thumb.

"Okay Namom." Ashler said then stood up then took Lyel's arms to help her up.

"Here" Nini said as she pushed the stuffed horse into Lyel's hands causing her to fall back down.

"Oops." Ashler laughed as Lyel held her horse and babbled. Namom looked sternly at Nini, who marched over to the other kids who were putting toys away.

"Come on Bug." Ash said trying again to help Lyel up. Once on her feet, Lyel held her horse, babbled happily then popped her thumb in her mouth. Namom smiled inwardly as she watched Ash try to figure out a way to hold Lyel's hand to walk with her when both hands were occupied.

"Let's go find Aunt Gwen, who is your grandmother." Ash smiled as he put his hands on Lyel's shoulders and maneuvered her gently toward the door.

"It's not fair!" Namom heard Nini protest and saw her directing the others where to put the playthings.

"You are right Asnina. It is not quite fair." Namom smiled.

"But I want to remind you, all of you, that it wasn't all that long ago that you were just as little as Bug and your older cousins and your Aunts, Uncles, siblings and parents picked up after you. And sometimes they still do."

"Botias helps me pick up my toys." One of the little girls said, referring to her older brother.

"And that is very nice of him. That's what families do. They help each other with things." Namom smiled.

"Bug is learning how to play with others, how to put away her things and how to be helpful in general, just like you all did. And the best way to help her learn is by showing her how to do things, like put toys in the toy box. I am confident that each of you can do that." Namom smiled.

"Helping is fun." One child said.

"I help my mama make cookies." Another said.

"I was Teacher's Helper in school three times." Nini said proudly.

"That's impressive Nini. I'm proud of you." Namom smiled and the other children chattered and nodded in agreement. After that Nini was all about helping and showing the younger kids how to properly pick up and the nursery was tidied up in no time.

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"'Scuse me please." Ashler said as he came into the kitchen.

"Is everything all right Ashy?" Greda asked.

"Think so. Namom told me to take Bug to find Aunt Gwen. She was crying." Ash said and Lyel babbled and toddled over to Gwenot, who picked her up.

"Why was she crying?" Gwenot asked.

"Nini threw her horsey across the room then Koli told her that wasn't nice and Nini said she started it then Namom said that was enough and said it was time to tidy up and het washed up for dinner then she asked me to walk Lyel to find Aunt Gwen and Nini to go get her horse then Nini gave it to her and she fell down but she laughed then I couldn't hold her hand because they were both busy but I just steered her like Papa steers a carriage. She said naughty word three times. But Mama said that she doesn't know it is naughty so it's okay but me and Nini can't say it." Ash said seriously and the adults had to suppress smiles and chuckles. Ash wasn't a big talker but when he was asked a question his explanations were comprehensive.

"Thank you for telling us that Ashy and for bringing Lyel to me. I think she is all right now, don't you?" Gwenot smiled.

"Yeah. She laughs a lot." Ash said.

"Why don't you go tell Namom that dinner is ready and then go wash your hands?" Greda said.

"Kay Nana." Ash smiled then trotted out of the kitchen.

"Hey Ashy." Jilla said as she came in the front door.

"Dinner's ready." She smiled.

"I know. I 'possed to go tell Namom because Bug is okay now and not crying." Ash said.

"Um, okay. Go to it then." Jilla said a bit confused.

"Kay." Ash said and continued on to the nursery as the older kids starting coming into the house.

"Go wash up guys, then go on to the dining room." Jilla said loudly over the din of their laughter and conversation.

Lunch was loud, chaotic and as far as Namom was concerned, perfect. Afterward, Gwenot and Greda organized the older children to help clean up in the kitchen while Jilla and the other cousins engaged the younger ones in helping clear the table. Even Lyel was instructed to take her little, non-breakable bowl and cup into the kitchen to be washed, which she did under Namom's guidance with a great deal of babyish enthusiasm and chatter. This was the first time two of the children were now old enough to be kitchen helpers, something which was considered a promotion of sorts in the Arduenna children's hierarchy, and they were very excited and quite proud of themselves. Namom oversaw both endeavors, offering encouragement, praise and even consolation and understanding when a plate or glass was invariably broken.

After lunch was cleaned up, everyone went outside to play or just enjoy the beautiful fall day. The children played tag, hide and seek, jumped rope and just generally ran around. They'd come over to the new large patio area from time to time to rest, regroup, have a snack or occasionally tattle. Ash played little but mainly sat on a blanket on the grass and worked puzzles. Lyel and the other very young children just moved from group to group. Nini didn't mind the others but usually ignored Lyel.

As the sun started to go down, it started to get chilly so everyone went inside. The adults had decided that dinner would be a casual picnic type affair in the form of two slumber parties. Voril and Chiwa took the older of the children, including the newly initiated kitchen helpers to the largest of the cottages for theirs. Namom sent them off carrying baskets full of cold fried chicken, a variety of cold salads, drinks and lots of snacks for later on. Jilla was in charge of the youngest kids slumber party. While she was in one of the bedrooms getting Lyel changed and into her pajamas, Greda and Gwenot were assisting the kids in spreading out picnic blankets, bringing in picnic baskets and generally getting things ready. They were ready to go when Jilla came in with Lyel and they joined the kids on the picnic blanket. Greda, Gwenot and Namom sat at a small picnic type table beside them. Both groups had a great time eating, playing games, telling stories and having snacks.

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"Is it time yet?" Nini said running into the parlor where Jilla was talking to Namom.

"The others will be here very soon." Namom said.

"Are you being nice to Bug?" Jilla asked.

"You promised, remember."

"I promised I wouldn't be mean to her and I haven't been." Nini said.

"Bye." She said and ran back outside.

"She's got me there." Jilla chuckled.

"She's a clever one, just like you were." Namom smiled.

"Oz help us." Jilla said.

"I just hope she gets over this whatever it is with Bug. I want them to be close. But at least Ashy likes her."

"It will work out…eventually but they may never be good friends like you and Glinda are." Namom said.

"Here they come! Here they come!" They heard a chorus of voices exclaim. They went out onto the porch and saw three carriages loaded with cousins, older children and luggage coming through the gate of the Lodge compound. As soon as they stopped, people started jumping out and enthusiastic greetings ensued. Jilla saw Nini take Lyel by the hand and all but drag her towards Glinda.

"Uh-oh." Jilla said as she ran to them.

"Hi Nini." Glinda said with a big smile.

"I'm glad you…"

"Here. You take her back now." Nini said as she let go of Lyel's hand.

"So my Mama won't have to mess with her anymore." She said firmly.

"What?" Glinda said looking at Jilla.

"Asnina. We've talked about this." Jilla said exasperated.

"What? I was nice. I brought her to her own mama. And now you don't have to." Nini said reasonably.

"Bye." Nini said and ran off.

"Am I missing something here?" Glinda said as she cuddled Lyel.

"Let's just say Nini is not as fond of Bug as I was of you."

"Now that Bug is mobile and verbal and being cute as a bug, we think Nini is just jealous." Jilla said.

"I'll fill you in later." She said as she got caught up in the greeting frenzy.

"Well Bug, How do you like your first gathering of Arduennas?" Glinda laughed as she headed to the main house and Lyel babbled, laughed and bounced happily in her mommy's arms.

"Lively bunch aren't they?" She laughed as she watched everyone greeting Namom.